Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women

When it comes to mentoring, women face more barriers than men. Here's how men can help change that.

Increasingly, new employees and junior members of any profession are encouraged—sometimes stridently—to "find a mentor!" Four decades of research reveals that the effects of mentorship can be profound and enduring; strong mentoring relationships have the capacity to transform individuals and entire organizations.

But the mentoring landscape is unequal. Evidence consistently shows that women face more barriers in securing mentorships than men, and when they do find a mentor, they may reap a narrow range of both professional and psychological benefits. Athena Rising is a book for men about how to eliminate this problem by mentoring women deliberately and effectively.

Traditional notions of mentoring are modeled on male-to-male relationships, yet women often report a desire for mentoring that addresses their interpersonal needs. Women want mentors who not only understand this, but truly honor it. Coauthors W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith present a straightforward, no-nonsense manual for men working in all types of institutions, organizations, and businesses to become excellent mentors to women, because as women succeed, lean in, and assume leading roles in any organization or work context, the culture will become more egalitarian, effective, and prone to retaining top talent.

W. Brad Johnson, PhD, is professor of psychology in the department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the United States Naval Academy and a faculty associate in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and recipient of the Johns Hopkins University Teaching Excellence Award. Dr. Johnson is the author of more than 100 journal articles and book chapters--many on the topic of mentoring--and 13 books, in the areas of mentoring, professional ethics, and counseling.

David G. Smith, PhD, is an active-duty U.S. Navy Captain and associate professor of sociology in the department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the United States Naval Academy. As a sociologist trained in military sociology and social psychology, he focuses his research on gender, work, and family issues including dual-career families, military families, women in the military, and retention of women. Dr. Smith is the author of numerous journal articles and book chapters, many on the topic of gender and the workplace.

You can find W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith at wbradjohnson.com and davidgsmithphd.com.